Vertically swinging door

ABSTRACT

1,101,301. Up-and-over doors. FRITS BODE MECHANISCHE BOUWMATERIALEN N.V. 23, Feb., 1966 [1, March, 1965], No. 7853/66. Heading E2M. A swing up door, having a panel 1 fitted on each side with a runner 2, is pivotally connected by an arm 3 to the door frame at B, the panel also being engaged on each side by a short arm 5 and a long arm 4 which form a knee shaped hinge at D, the long arm being pivotally connected to the upper part of the door frame at A and the short arm to the panel at C. Close to the point D each long arm is attached by means of a cable 6 to a spring 7 so arranged that the spring force always makes an acute angle with the long arm and its magnitude is equal on each side of the door. The door may be made of polyester reinforced with glass fibres.

6, 1958 A. A. VAN BERGEN 3,395,488

VERTICALLY SWINGING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1966 INVENTOR ADE/fl/Vl/S flmwa/v/as V4 Jase/v BY 7" M ATTORNEYS 6, 1968 A. A. VAN BERGEN 3,395,488

VERTICALLY SWINGING DOOR Filed Feb. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Abel/mus AA/rw/v/us M4 455: GEA/ BY M 7 JM/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,395,488 VERTICALLY SWINGING DOOR Adrianus Anthonius Van Bergen, Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands, assignor to Frits Bode Mechanische Bouwmaterialen N.V., Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands, a Dutch corporation Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,581 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Mar. 1, 1965, 6502565 1 Claim. (Cl. 49-204) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertically swinging door comprises a doorframe, a panel, and link means on each side of the panel mounting the panel on the doorframe for vertical swinging movement relative to the frame. Each link means comprises a relatively long link and a relatively short link pivotally interconnected at a first point. The long link is pivotally connected to an upper portion of the doorframe at a second point. The short link is pivotally connected to the panel at a third point. The long and short links form an obtuse angle with each other that opens toward the panel in the closed-door position. Said first and third points are about the same distance from said second point in the fully open position of the door. Each link means includes a further link pivotally connected at a fourth point to the doorframe above said second point and at a fifth point to the panel above said third point in the closed-door position, said fourth and fifth points lying in a common plane which is disposed between the panel and said third point in the closed-door position. Torsion spring means common to both link means, and flexible pull members interconnecting the torsion spring means with the long links, continuously apply an upward force to the long links along lines of force that lie in a plane spaced from said second points on the side of said second points opposite the panel.

The present invention relates to vertically swinging doors, more particularly of the type in which linkage at each side of the door supports a panel for bodily upward and rotative movement of a type that can be generally designated vertically swinging.

It is an object of the present invention to provide vertically swinging doors in which the link means at either side of the door is out of the way when the door is open.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of vertically swinging doors having portions that run vertically on the adjacent doorframe, in which the runner portions exert very little horizontal thrust on the doorframe.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of vertically swinging doors having link means that are free from forces which would cause any portion of the link means to deflect sideways.

Finally, the invention contemplates the provision of vertically swinging doors which will be relatively simple 'and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, operate,

maintain and repair, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a door according to the present invention, in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the door partly open;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS, 1 and 2 but showing the door fully open;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragment of the upper portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view, showing the door in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the-re is shown a door comprising a panel 1 which may be for example of a synthetic material such as polyester reinforced with glass fibers or any other lightweight material. Panel 1 has an outwardly extending marginal flange 3 on its inner side. Panel 1 is set in a doorframe 5 which on its outer side is provided with a pair of upright stiles 7 interconnected at their upper ends by a horizontal lintel 9. In the closed position of the door, flange 3 contacts stiles 7 and the lintel 9 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Panel 1 also carries a runner 11 at each side thereof, which rides in the associated stile 7.

Means mounting panel 1 for vertical swinging movement on and relative to frame 5 are provided, comprising link means indicated generally at 13, one of which is provided for each side of panel 1. The two link means 13 are identical to each other. Each link means comprises a rela tively long link 15 and a relatively short link 17. Links 15 and 17 are pivotally interconnected at a first point 19. Link 15 is pivotally connected to doorframe 5 at a second point 21 on a bracket 23 that projects inwardly from doorframe 5 at the level of an upper portion of panel 1. Link 17 is pivotally connected to panel 1 at a third point 25 on a bracket 27 carried on the inner side of panel 1.

Link 15 is provided with a leg 29 that extends inwardly from link 15 adjacent point 19 when link 15 extends downwardly as in FIG. 1. A pull cable 31 is secured to leg 29 at point 33 and continuously pulls on link 15 along a line of force. As cable 31 are duplicated on each side of the door, those lines of force are disposed in a common plane, and point 21 is disposed between the door and that plane in the closed position of the door and is spaced a substantial distance from that plane in all positions of the door. Cable 31. forms an acute angle with link 15 in all positions of panel 1.

Link means 13 also includes a further link 35, which is pivotally interconnected at a fourth point 37 to doorframe 5 a substantial distance above point 21. Link 35 at its other end is pivotally interconnected with panel 1 at a fifth point 39 on bracket 27, fifth point 39 being a substantial distance above point 25 and a substantial distance outward of point 25, in the closed door position of FIG. 1.

It should also be noted that in the fully closed door position of FIG. 1, the links 15 and 17 form an obtuse angle that opens toward the door. That is to say that the plane in which points 19 and 21 lie, and the plane in which points 19 and 25 lie, form an obtuse dihedral angle on their side toward the door.

It is also to be noted that, in the fully opened door position of FIG. 3, the points 19 and 25 are about equidistant from point 21.

Means for insuring that cables 31 will continuously be in tension are provided, comprising a torsion spring 41 that is common to both cables 31 and that is carried by the doorframe. Of course, other spring means and/or tensioning means for cables 31 may be provided as desired, it being important only that the tension in cables 31 or the like be equal on both sides of the door in all door positions.

It should still further be noted that the point 25 is disposed a little below the center of gravity of the panel in the close-d door position of FIG. 1.

As a result of these relationships, the forces imposed on the door by cable 31 and those imposed on the door by gravity and those imposed on the door by reaction through links 15 and 17 and 35 acting on the door at points 25 .and 39, will be so balanced that the resultant horizontal thrust will be practically zero. This means that runner 11 will bear very lightly against doorframe 5 and will perform the function of guiding and steadying the door but will impose substantially no horizontal thrust on the doorf-rame.

It is also to be understood that panel 1 and link means 13 and stiles 7 and lintel 9 may be assembled as a prefabricated unit, with the brackets for supporting points 21 and 37 in place and with brackets for supporting spring 41 on lintel 9, so that the panel and link means and torsion spring means may be assembled to a doorframe as a unit for ease of manufacture and shipping and installation.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A vertically swinging door comprising a doorframe, a panel, link means on each side of the panel mounting the panel on the doorframe for vertical swinging movement relative to the frame, each link means comprising a relatively long link and a relatively short link pivotally interconnected at a first point, the long link being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the doorframe at a second point, the short link being pivotally connected to the panel at a third point, and means continuously applying an upward force to the long links along line of force that lie in a plane spaced from said second points on the side of said second points opposite the panel,*the long and short links forming an obtuse angle with each other that opens toward the panel in the closed-door position, said first and third points being about the same distance from said second point in the fully opened position of the door, each link means including a further link pivotally connected at a fourth point to the doorframe above said second point and at a fifth point to the panel above said third point in the closed-panel position, said fourth and fifth points lying in a common plane which is disposed between the panel and said third point in the closed-door position, said means applying an upward force comprising torsion spring means common to both link means, and flexible pull members interconnecting the torsion spring means with the long links.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,833 6/1951 McFarlane 49-205 3,160,200 12/ 1964- McKee et all 49200X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,287,224 1/ 1962 France.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner, 

